There's only one woman behind the sewing machine at Paper Roads and that's me, Amy.

I am mainly 2 things in life – a designer and a bikepacking cyclist crossing multiple cycling disciplines. Thanks to Marin Bikes Aotearoa for supporting both of the things I love – I am a Marin Bikes ambassador, riding a Team Marin 2 hardtail for bikepacking.

I got reacquainted with the sewing machine after a 10 year hiatus during which I became a set designer and a graphic designer, working in both industries in Australia and NZ. The sewing background comes from the costume design side of my Events Design Diploma, an uncompleted Fashion Design Degree and taking Textiles and Design throughout all of high school. Working with soft fabrics never came naturally and I preferred structural design, which comes together perfectly when designing and making bags.

In the beginning of my career, I discovered road cycling, then Audax randonneuring. After the move to New Zealand from Sydney, I became fascinated with bikepacking, completing the Tour Aotearoa in 2018, Kopiko Aotearoa in 2021 and the Geyserland events scattered throughout. Inspired by the rugged, mountainous country of the Renegades Muster event, I decided to step up to bikepack racing, which was met with a failed attempt in 2022, then completed in 2023 with a 4th place in women's.

If you want to hear me talk about how fun bikepacking is (in retrospect, always), watch Kopiko, filmed by Deane Parker and Dylan Gerschwitz.

I work out of my home workshop and is equipped with an industrial walking foot straight sewer, industrial cylinder arm binder and a heavy duty desktop machine.